Melissa H. Nafash

Melissa H. Nafash is a Partner in the New York office of Labaton Keller Sucharow LLP and Co-Chair of the Firm’s ADR Practice.  She represents over 800,000 clients in matters regarding data breaches, misuse of personal data, cryptocurrency, consumer finance, and personal banking litigation.

Highly regarded in her practice, The National Law Journal's "Elite Trial Lawyers" recognized Melissa as a Rising Star of the Plaintiffs Bar, Lawdragon recognized her as a Next Generation Lawyer, The Best Lawyers in America® named her among the Ones to Watch in the Class Actions – Plaintiffs category, and Euromoney’s Women in Business Law Awards selected her as a finalist for its Arbitration Rising Star award.  Melissa has also received the National Trial Lawyers’ Top 40 Under 40 Award, the New York Metro Area Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, and the New York Metro Area Top Young Women Attorneys Award, as well as the Super Lawyers’ Rising Star Award.

As Co-Chair, Melissa developed the Firm's groundbreaking ADR Practice in response to the use of mandatory arbitration clauses by companies in consumer contracts. The ADR Practice has achieved over $150 million in recoveries for over 300,000 of the Firm's clients, in some of the largest consumer cases in recent history.

Prior to joining Labaton Keller Sucharow, Melissa was a Senior Attorney at The Lanier Law Firm, where she was appointed to the plaintiffs’ steering committee in In Re: Davol/C.R. Bard Hernia Mesh Multi-Case Management and assisted in leading the litigation for more than 30,000 plaintiffs. In addition, she managed several other litigations from onset through settlement.  Previously, Melissa was an associate at Milberg LLP, where she oversaw three mass tort litigations, prepared two litigations for settlement, and negotiated settlement at multiple settlement conferences with defense counsel.

Melissa earned her Juris Doctor from Roger Williams University School of Law.  She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut.